Setting up your blog is pretty straightforward. First, you need a domain and WordPress-friendly web hosting. If you’re not sure which host to sign up for, try to find a WordPress hosting review online. Once you have the hosting solution set, install WordPress, which can be pretty simple if your host utilizes a tool like Fantastico that allows you to install your blog in a few, short steps. This is something to look into when browsing for web hosting providers.
Once your WordPress blog is out on the internet, it is already at the risk of getting hacked. If you’re new to web hosting, WordPress, and web security, you’re probably hoping for a one-stop source or book with all the information you need. Unfortunately, with the internet and its constant updates, it really isn’t possible to write a book like this. You basically have to learn things as you go along while keeping up with recent web security news. However, there are some basic steps you can take to ensure the security of your WordPress blog. It is crucial to take the necessary precautions.
Prevent the Worst from Happening
Rather than remedying the problem after the fact, which is much harder, it’s better to focus on preventing issues before they occur. That’s why you need to prepare for the worst. Redundancy is highly critical as you need up-to-date backups of your WordPress install and database in case of a terrible hack attack. Without such backups, your hard work on this site could possibly go to waste and disappear in a short amount of time. You wouldn’t want that to happen, right?
There are WordPress plugins available for doing this easily for you. It’s just a matter of searching for plugins through your install or the official WordPress website. Refer to reviews to pick the right backup solution for you, as there are many available. WordPress hosting providers also offer such tools for you as well. There are even backup solutions that handle these tasks in real-time, but that can be considered overkill even if you can find solutions like this. Regular daily, or even weekly, backup schedules should be enough for your needs.
In case of an attack on the security of your WordPress blog, it’s just a matter of reverting to the previous version of your database or website installation as preserved by your backup solution. This is why redundancy is critical in website security.
Organizing The Security Process For Your WordPress Blog
Once you get accustomed to regular backups, the following steps should be taken to make your blog as hacker resistant as possible. These steps should also streamline and organize the whole process for you:
1. Basic security best practices.
There are several simple steps that most webmasters tend to forget about or tend to take for granted. For example, you should keep your WordPress install up-to-date. Whenever a new WordPress installation update is released, you should update your plugins as well. Why? There usually are updates for plugins to ensure compatibility with the latest WordPress update. A constant update of administrator and user passwords is also a required best practice, in addition to making sure you sign out of your account if you logged in on a public computer. Anyone can access your account and wreck havoc on your site if you’re not careful.
2. Secure access.
Grant account permissions and set rules for various accounts properly. You can limit access to the administrator directory of your WordPress install using something like an IP restriction. However, be careful not to block your own IP address and prevent yourself from accessing your own site. Also, you can set particular files as read-only and make them accessible by only administrators and specific users.
3. Make your web server as bullet proof as possible.
The majority of hacks that occur from WordPress blogs result from holes within the web servers of those blogs. Thus, it is a must to strengthen your web server in order to fill in these hackable holes.
4. Ensure that WordPress plugins are secure.
A combination of WordPress plugins or any individual plugin can case vulnerabilities in your blog. As said before, keep your WordPress install and plugins updated to ensure compatibility and safety.
5. Use WP Security Scanner.
Use this tool as your final check as it is easily one of the best out there for finding vulnerabilities within your WordPress install. Download it and run a report to see any current holes in your blog’s installation so you can prevent any future attacks.
You can’t limit yourself to these 5 steps, but these are the mandatory measures to secure your WordPress blog.
This article is written by Vanessa. She writes for blog hosting guide WHS and has written more such related articles covering different blogging aspects including wordpress web hosting as well.